Abstract: A process cartridge is provided. The process cartridge is detachably mounted in an image formation apparatus configured with a power output unit that is swingable, an outer circumference of the power output unit contains a recessed portion. The process cartridge includes: a power receiving unit, comprising a wheel hub and a power receiving member connected with the wheel hub, the power receiving member being engaged with the power output unit to receive a driving force; where the wheel hub comprises a hollow cylinder portion accommodating the power output unit; where the power receiving member includes a fixing protrusion, the fixing protrusion is engaged with the recessed portion of the power output unit to receive the driving force; where the power receiving unit further comprises a bias part, the bias part applies a bias force to drive the power output unit to move to engage with the fixing protrusion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a detachable body that is able to be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body in a depth direction and is movable from a first position to a second position; an operation unit that is operated in a direction approaching the image forming apparatus body to position the detachable body from the first position to the second position; and a pressing member that presses the detachable body toward the second position with a pressing surface in contact with the detachable body in a state in which an operation of the operation unit is completed and moves the detachable body from the first position to the second position with a slope surface forming an obtuse angle with respect to the pressing surface in contact with the detachable body in accordance with the operation of the operation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a power device. The power device includes a circuit board provided to intersect a horizontal plane. The power device includes an electrolytic capacitor, an electric element, and a plate-shaped member that is provided between the electrolytic capacitor and the electric element in a vertical direction and including a first surface extending in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction. The plate-shaped member includes a cutout or a hole, and a position of at least part of an area where the cutout or the hole is formed is farther in the first direction from the mounting surface of the circuit board than a position of the electric element.

Abstract: In a foil transfer device for transferring a transfer layer from a foil film onto a sheet laid on the foil film, the foil film is wound on a supply reel, and taken up on a take-up reel. A heating member heats the foil film, and a pressure member is provided to press the foil film and the sheet between the pressure member and the heating member. A separator changes a traveling direction of the foil film having passed through between the heating member and the pressure member into a direction different from a direction of conveyance of the sheet, to thereby separate the foil film from the sheet. A first fan blows air toward the foil film positioned between the heating member and the separator.

Abstract: A consumable chip applied to a consumable includes a memory and a controller. The memory is used to store information of a consumable product of an image formation device. The controller is configured to control the consumable chip to generate a predetermined signal to cause the image formation device to perform a target operation according to the predetermined signal. The consumable chip is mounted at the consumable. The consumable is detachably mounted at the image formation device.

Abstract: A guide unit holding portion is formed at a position between two struts in a longitudinal direction of a fixing unit. When a main cover portion rotates from an open position to a closed position, a supported portion of a swing guide unit moves from a position where the supported portion is separated from the guide unit holding portion to a position where the supported portion is in contact with the guide unit holding portion. Further, the supported portion slides on the guide unit holding portion. When the supported portion slides on the guide unit holding portion, the swing guide unit is swung upward, and then held at a target position by the guide unit holding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit forming a transfer nip portion, a fixing unit forming a fixing nip portion, and first and second belt suction conveyance units to suck a sheet onto a first belt and a second belt, respectively. The fixing nip portion is arranged at a position above the transfer nip portion. In a sheet conveyance direction, an upstream end portion of the first belt in the first belt suction conveyance unit is provided below the transfer nip portion, a downstream end portion of the first belt is provided above an upstream end portion of the second belt in the second belt suction conveyance unit, and a downstream end portion of the second belt is provided below the fixing nip portion. The first and second belts are inclined from a lower position to an upper position from upstream to downstream in the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: A sensor cleaning device includes: a cleaning member including an inclined portion that wipes and cleans an entire surface of a sensor, which includes a long side portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a short side portion extending in a lateral direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction, while moving relative to the surface of the sensor in the longitudinal direction of the surface of the sensor and is disposed obliquely to a wiping direction so that an upstream end portion of the inclined portion in the wiping direction is positioned outside the surface of the sensor in the lateral direction; and a moving mechanism that moves the cleaning member in the wiping direction and in a direction opposite to the wiping direction.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member that removes toner from a surface of an image holder by bringing an upper end portion into contact with the surface from a downstream side in a rotation direction of the image holder, a housing that supports the cleaning member and that stores the toner removed from the surface of the image holder by the cleaning member, and a transport member that is provided in the housing and that transports the toner stored in the housing to an outside of the housing at the same height as a contact portion of the cleaning member that comes into contact with the surface of the image holder or at a position above the contact portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus can include a heater roller, a tension roller, a belt movable from the heater roller to the tension roller, a pressure roller to make pressure contact with the heater roller via the belt to form a fixing nip, and a blower member including a first opening to direct air toward the belt and a second opening to direct air toward the heater roller.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes a contact part coming into contact with a member to be cleaned, the contact part being constituted by a member containing polyurethane rubber produced by polymerizing at least a polyol component and a polyisocyanate component. The ratio (M100/Re) of 100% modulus (M100 [MPa]) to rebound resilience coefficient (Re [%]) of the member is 0.25 or more. The rebound resilience coefficient (Re [%]) of the member is less than 25%. The tensile stress at 23° C. and 200% strain of the member is 15 MPa or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employs a constitution in which, in a case that a relative position between an inner roller and an outer member with respect to a circumferential direction of the inner roller is changed in a period after a preceding recording material passes through a transfer portion and until a recording material subsequent to the preceding recording material reaches the transfer portion during execution of a job for forming and outputting images on a plurality of recording materials, a controller controls a position changing mechanism and a contact and separation mechanism so that a separating operation for separating the outer roller from a belt is performed and then the above-described relative position is changed.

Abstract: Alight scanning apparatus according to the present invention includes a deflecting unit configured to deflect a light flux to scan a scanned surface in a main scanning direction, and an imaging optical system configured to guide the light flux deflected by the deflecting unit to the scanned surface and to have different partial magnifications in the main scanning direction between an on-axis image height and an outermost off-axis image height. A ratio of a reflectivity at a first outermost off-axis deflection point on one side with respect to an on-axis deflection point on a deflecting surface of the deflecting unit to that at the on-axis deflection point, and a ratio of the reflectivity at a second outermost off-axis deflection point on the other side with respect to the on-axis deflection point on the deflecting surface to that at the on-axis deflection point are each appropriately set.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in a case that a relative position between an inner roller and an outer member with respect to a circumferential direction of the inner roller is changed in a period from a state in which the outer member separated from a belt until first transfer in a job for forming and outputting an image on a recording material is started when the job is executed, a controller controls a position changing mechanism and a contact and separation mechanism so that a contact operation for bringing the outer member into contact with the belt is performed after changing the relative position.

Abstract: A fixing belt includes a substrate layer inducting a first base resin and a first thermally conductive filler dispersed in the first base resin; and a release layer provided on the substrate layer, wherein the first base resin includes at least one selected from a polyimide, a polyamide, and a polyamideimide and the first thermally conductive filler includes at least one selected from carbon black, graphite, boron nitride (BN), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and carbon fibers, and the substrate layer has a thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of about 1.5 W/m·K or more.

Abstract: A developer storing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a developer container and a container supporting portion that holds the developer container at a predetermined attachment position. The developer container includes a container body, an inlet, a first handle portion, and a second handle portion. The inlet is provided at a container upper portion of the container body, at a position near a first end portion on a side of an insertion direction of the developer container. From the inlet, the developer is caused to flow inside the container body. The first handle portion is provided at the container upper portion of the container body. The second handle portion is provided at a second end portion of the container body on a side of a draw-out direction opposite to the insertion direction.

Abstract: A detection device includes a first detection unit that detects a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion of a medium before the medium is heated, and a second detection unit that differs from the first detection unit and that detects the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the medium after the medium is heated.

Abstract: A printing device includes a printing engine to selectively output print material, a replaceable item of the printing engine, and a subsystem for the printing engine. A machine learning model is used to control controllable parameters of the subsystem for the printing engine, based on physical characteristic measurements of the printing device, to maximize a lifespan of the replaceable item.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing to accommodate a developer and including a developer outlet, and a sensing portion that forms a sensing area to detect whether or not the developer inside the housing is miming out. The sensing portion is recessed into a portion of a lower wall of the housing accordingly having a thickness less than a thickness of a remaining portion of the lower wall.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container body, an opening, a cover, a toner discharge port, a shutter, a cylindrical structure, protrusions, and an identifier. The shutter is attached to the cover and includes a main shutter covering the toner discharge port. The main shutter moves between a closed position to close the toner discharge port and an open position to open the toner discharge port. The protrusions are on both sides of the cover and protrude in a direction orthogonal to a toner container mounting direction. The identifier is on the cover to indicate a toner color. The cylindrical structure's leading end is downstream of leading ends of the protrusions in the mounting direction. The main shutter's leading end is downstream of the protrusions' leading ends in the mounting direction when the main shutter is in the closed position. The protrusions are downstream of the identifier in the mounting direction.